Congresswomen Luz Rivas and Doris Matsui Lead Colleagues in Opposing Push to Revive AI Moratorium in Defense Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29), co-chair of the bipartisan STEM Education Caucus, and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) led a letter with over 75 members in opposition to any effort to reintroduce a moratorium on state and local artificial intelligence (AI) laws in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  

“Earlier this year, the Senate rejected this same AI moratorium concept on an overwhelming bipartisan 99–1 vote for H.R. 1, the reconciliation bill,” wrote the lawmakers. “That vote sent a clear, bipartisan message: Congress should not freeze state and local AI safeguards, least of all when there are no meaningful federal protections in place. Trying to revive the same flawed policy in the NDAA, or through executive action, is an attempt to quietly jam through an idea that has already been rejected, as well as sidestepping public debate and bypassing the regular committee process.” 

The lawmakers emphasized that these new attempts come at a moment of increased AI-usage and growing bipartisan public demand for safe, trustworthy AI development. States across the country, led by both Democrats and Republicans, are creating guardrails to protect consumers, workers, children, and vulnerable communities without hindering innovation. Blocking those safeguards now would leave Americans exposed to escalating risks, erode public trust, and undermine U.S. competitiveness. 

“This proposal is not only dangerous, but it is also unpopular,” the lawmakers continued. “The American people reject it, state leaders reject it, and experts reject it.” 

“The American people want AI to be used in ways that are safe, fair, and accountable. They want innovation they can trust, not a rush to strip away all safeguards,” the lawmakers concluded.   

Full text of the letter can be found HERE. 

Background:  
 

House Republicans included a 10-year moratorium in H.R. 1 that would have prevented states from implementing or establishing laws that regulate, limit, or restrict AI policy.  

On May 21, Congresswoman Rivas offered an amendment at the House Committee on Rules to remove this provision from the Big Ugly Bill. House Republicans on the Committee rejected this amendment by an 8-4 vote. Watch Congresswoman Rivas’ remarks on her amendment.  

On July 1, the Senate voted 99-1 to remove the AI moratorium provision from the Big Ugly Bill. The Big Ugly Bill passed the Senate 51-50, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking the tie.  

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